"Chief of Staff," Schmidt just walked out of the basement where Paulus was, when he was pulled by Kurtzbach, commander of the 51st Infantry Corps. The latter asked quietly: "How about it, Commander, you agree?" Surrendered to the Russians?”
"General Kurtzbach," Schmidt replied with a wry smile: "Unfortunately, the Commander has no such idea at all. He intends to obey the orders of the Führer and fight the Russians to the last man."
"Is he crazy?" Kurtzbach was a little anxious when he heard this. "Don't he know what our situation is like? Without the supplies of food, ammunition and fuel, how can we still be surrounded by the Russians?" How long will it last?”
"You also heard the Führer's order at that time." Schmidt said helplessly: "I also advised him to stop the hopeless resistance and surrender to the Russians to save more lives. But he wouldn't listen at all. He wants nothing more than to obey the orders of the Führer.”
"No, we absolutely cannot let him do this." Kurtzbach said firmly: "We must find a way to stop him."
"How to stop it? Do you want to continue persuading?" After Schmidt asked the question, before Kurtzbach could answer, he asked himself: "I have tried to persuade you all I can, but the commander is now obsessed with thinking. Fight to the end with the Russians. No matter who persuades us, it will be of no use. Unless the head of state changes his mind and agrees to let us surrender, he will issue an order to stop resisting and surrender to the Russians."
"Since persuasion is of no use," Kurtzbach said through gritted teeth as he did not want to sit still and wait for death. He was determined to take the risk and said, "How about we conduct a military remonstrance? If he still doesn't agree, capture him and hand him over to the Russians. .”
"General Kurtzbach, are you crazy?" After hearing what Kurtzbach said, Schmidt rushed over, covered his mouth, and said in a panic: "You would actually have such a ridiculous idea. What if? If the guards hear it, they will shoot you to death regardless of whether you are a general or not."
After Kurtzbach took Schmidt's hand away from his mouth, he asked angrily: "Chief of Staff, do you really want to stay here and wait to die?"
"Who wants to die if they can be captured alive?" Schmidt said sadly: "Even if you want to carry out military remonstrance, how many troops can you mobilize?"
"If you have no objection, I will immediately convene people to discuss it." Kurtzbach asked tentatively: "Chief of Staff, are you willing to participate together?"
Schmidt understood the current situation of the troops and knew that it would only be a matter of time before they were wiped out by the Soviet army. He did not want to sacrifice his life in vain. Now that he saw a chance to survive, he would not give up easily. Then he nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go over after you gather everyone together."
Schmidt returned to his room. After waiting for more than ten minutes, a second lieutenant came and knocked on the door. After Schmidt opened the door, the second lieutenant reported to him: "Your Excellency, Chief of Staff, General Kurtzbach ordered me to come to you."
"Where is he?"
"plz follow me."
The ensign led Schmidt to the door of a room in the back, stopped and said to Schmidt: "Your Excellency, Chief of Staff, General Kurtzbach is inside. Please come in."
Schmidt opened the door and walked in, seeing seven or eight people sitting in the room. In addition to Kurtzbach, there were also Max Pfeffer, commander of the 4th Infantry Corps, General Walter Heitz, commander of the 7th Infantry Corps, Dr. Otto Kofis, commander of the 295th Infantry Division, and Dr. Otto Kofis, commander of the 100th Infantry Corps. Division Commander Werner Sanne and others.
Seeing that there were so many senior generals gathered in this room, Schmidt couldn't help but feel a little frightened. Among other things, if the Russians launch an attack, the commander of the 100th Jäger Division, Werner Sanne, only needs to order the troops to stop resisting. In less than five minutes, the Russian leading troops will be able to rush into the basement of the department store.
"Gentlemen," Kurtzbach said when he saw Schmidt coming: "Your Excellency, the commander, intends to continue to resist and let us all perish together with the Russians. I called you here to ask , what do you think, should you continue to fight with the commander, or should you take the initiative to lay down your weapons and surrender to the Russians?"
"Due to the tight blockade of the Russian Air Force, the supplies we can get are getting less and less." Walter Heitz was the first to speak. He frowned and said: "According to my estimation, even if the Russians do not attack, we will probably It will be difficult to sustain until February. Therefore, the best way is to take the initiative to cease the war and surrender to the Russians."
"But, Commander, can you agree?" Dr. Kofis said worriedly: "Some time ago, the Russian Colonel Sokov personally came to persuade him to surrender, but he also refused. How can he change his mind so easily now?"
"If he doesn't change, then we will force him to change." Kurtzbach said through gritted teeth: "I plan to use military remonstrance to force the commander to change his mind. What do you think?"
"General Sannei," Kurtzbach could only call Sannei's name when everyone was still silent: "Your troops are deployed outside the department store. Tell me, what do you think about it?"
"The commander deployed our division here to protect the safety of the headquarters." Sannei said hesitantly: "If you order the soldiers to force the commander, I am worried that the situation will get out of control. I think we should try I would like to persuade the commander that as for the matter of military remonstrance, it is best to give up."
Seeing that Sonne actually contradicted him, Kurtzbach felt particularly angry. But now whether Sannei's troops participate in the military remonstrance will affect the success or failure of this operation. He can only persuade him with kind words: "General Sannei, I think your subordinates also want to return to their homeland alive. , if we explain the truth clearly to them, I believe they can still stand on our side."
"I'm sorry, General Kurtzbach." Sanneh replied firmly: "General Paulus is my superior, and I will never point the gun at my superior. I'm sorry, I want such a meeting, I am not suitable to participate anymore..."
Seeing Sonne preparing to walk outside, Kurtzbach pulled out his pistol, pointed it at the other man's forehead, and said with a ferocious expression: "General Sonne, if you dare to take another step forward, I will shoot. "
"General Kurtzbach, what are you doing? Put down the gun quickly and be careful of misfire." Seeing that Kurtzbach actually drew his gun at him, Schmidt quickly came out to smooth things over: "And you, General Sanneh, we I'm just trying to think of ways to persuade the commander to change his mind, but I'm not really preparing to go against him. You'd better sit down first and listen to what General Kurtzbach has to say."
Sannei snorted and returned to his seat to sit down. And Kurtzbach also threw the pistol on the table.
"Everyone," Schmidt felt that he should express his attitude first, so that the senior officers present would know how to make a choice: "Although the military remonstrance method proposed by General Kurtzbach is a bit extreme, under the current circumstances, it is also the only way to do it. The most effective method. Since the Russians attacking from outside joined forces with the defenders of Mamayev Heights, our situation has become more and more difficult. Everyone knows that the supplies we are getting are getting less and less, let alone ordinary The soldiers do not have enough to eat, and even the generals here may have less food to eat every day..."
"Your Excellency Chief of Staff." After Schmidt finished speaking, Dr. Kofis asked directly: "Then what do you think we should do?"
"We can make another effort." Schmidt said hesitantly: "Persuade the commander again. If he still doesn't listen, then follow General Kurtzbach's method and use military remonstrance to force him to submit. .”
After reaching a consensus, the group walked out of the meeting room and walked along the corridor toward Paulus' room. When the soldiers standing guard at the door saw Schmidt taking the lead, they not only did not stop him, but also took the initiative to open the door for him.
Paulus heard the door ringing, and then so many people poured in from outside. He couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and then asked: "What do you want?"
"Your Excellency, Commander," Schmidt, who was standing at the front, said respectfully to Paulus: "We are here to ask you to reconsider the Russian surrender letter. Under the current circumstances, Our army lacks food and clothing, and is seriously short of ammunition and fuel. Under the powerful attack of the Russians, we will not be able to sustain it for long."
"What do you want to say?" Paulus asked coldly.
"I would like to ask you to comply with everyone's wishes and order all troops to stop resisting and surrender to the Russians." Schmidt said righteously: "You can save more lives by doing this."
"No, this is definitely not possible." Paulus turned around, turned his back to the group of subordinates and said firmly: "I will obey the orders of the Führer, fight to the last man, and use up the last bullet. I am absolutely Will not surrender to the Russians."
Seeing that Paulus was so stubborn, everyone knew that there was no point in trying to persuade him, so they returned to the room where the secret meeting had just been held. Kurtzbach said angrily: "You have all heard that your Excellency, Commander, will never surrender to the Russians. If we continue to fight, everyone will not end well."
After a long time, Sannei broke the silence in the room: "General Kurtzbach is right. In emergency times, only extraordinary measures can be taken. I agree to use military admonishment to persuade the Commander."
Kurtzbach, who was already frustrated and disappointed, couldn't help but be overjoyed when he heard Sannei's statement and agreed to participate in the military remonstrance. He quickly said to him: "General Sannei, you have made a right decision. Those who survive in the future will The soldiers and their families will be forever grateful to you."
"Since everyone has no different opinions on the military remonstrance," Schmidt saw that everyone was silent, which was equivalent to acquiescing to Kurtzbach's opinion, so he took the initiative to say: "Next, we need to discuss the details of the operation. After all, there are people in the basement. With so many troops loyal to the commander, it would be bad if one of us starts fighting with our own people."
"Everyone," Schmidt felt that he should express his attitude first, so that the senior officers present would know how to make a choice: "Although the military remonstrance method proposed by General Kurtzbach is a bit extreme, under the current circumstances, it is also the only way to do it. The most effective method. Since the Russians attacking from outside joined forces with the defenders of Mamayev Heights, our situation has become more and more difficult. Everyone knows that the supplies we are getting are getting less and less, let alone ordinary The soldiers do not have enough to eat, and even the generals here may have less food to eat every day..."
"Your Excellency Chief of Staff." After Schmidt finished speaking, Dr. Kofis asked directly: "Then what do you think we should do?"
"We can make another effort." Schmidt said hesitantly: "Persuade the commander again. If he still doesn't listen, then follow General Kurtzbach's method and use military remonstrance to force him to submit. .”
After reaching a consensus, the group walked out of the meeting room and walked along the corridor toward Paulus' room. When the soldiers standing guard at the door saw Schmidt taking the lead, they not only did not stop him, but also took the initiative to open the door for him.
Paulus heard the door ringing, and then so many people poured in from outside. He couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and then asked: "What do you want?"
"Your Excellency, Commander," Schmidt, who was standing at the front, said respectfully to Paulus: "We are here to ask you to reconsider the Russian surrender letter. Under the current circumstances, Our army lacks food and clothing, and is seriously short of ammunition and fuel. Under the powerful attack of the Russians, we will not be able to sustain it for long."
"What do you want to say?" Paulus asked coldly.
"I would like to ask you to comply with everyone's wishes and order all troops to stop resisting and surrender to the Russians." Schmidt said righteously: "You can save more lives by doing this."
"No, this is definitely not possible." Paulus turned around, turned his back to the group of subordinates and said firmly: "I will obey the orders of the Führer, fight to the last man, and use up the last bullet. I am absolutely Will not surrender to the Russians.”
Seeing that Paulus was so stubborn, everyone knew that there was no point in trying to persuade him, so they returned to the room where the secret meeting had just been held. Kurtzbach said angrily: "You have all heard that your Excellency, Commander, will never surrender to the Russians. If we continue to fight, everyone will not end well."
After a long time, Sannei broke the silence in the room: "General Kurtzbach is right. In emergency times, only extraordinary measures can be taken. I agree to use military admonishment to persuade the Commander."
Kurtzbach, who was already frustrated and disappointed, couldn't help but be overjoyed when he heard Sonne's statement and agreed to participate in the military remonstrance. He quickly said to him: "General Sonne, you have made a right decision. Those who survive in the future will The soldiers and their families will be forever grateful to you."
"Since everyone has no different opinions on the military remonstrance," Schmidt saw that everyone was silent, which was equivalent to acquiescing to Kurtzbach's opinion, so he took the initiative to say: "Next, we need to discuss the details of the operation. After all, there are people in the basement. With so many troops loyal to the commander, it would be bad if one of us starts fighting with our own people."
